Former Democratic Governor Roy Barnes a/k/a “King Roy,” announced last week that he wants his old job back and will run for governor in next year's Democratic Primary.  “He intends to become the first former Georgia governor in a half-century to reclaim the office after being turned out by voters,” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 3).

Swept into office in 1998, Barnes promptly set about an ambitious agenda. He was going to reform the state’s public school system. He wanted to end the divisive fight over the Confederate emblem dominating the Georgia flag. “...He did both, and he paid dearly for it...” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 7). Barnes underestimated the power of the teachers union union. Confederate heritage supporters might not have voted for him anyway. But when Barnes relegated the rebel emblem to a minor role on a revamped state banner, it was a call to arms.

His governing style was arrogantly brash, aided and abetted by a Democratic-controlled legislature that favored big state government, lavish spending and tax hikes to pay for it all. The legislature was also becoming increasingly ethically challenged if not corrupt - several prominent leaders resigned or were indicted - and the Democrats played raw, political games with reapportionment in 2000. Gerrymandering was a closed door Democratic power grab. All of this turned out to be a drag on Barnes' re-election bid in 2002.

A little known Democrat turned Republican state senator, Sonny Perdue, was Barnes' challenger. Few expected Perdue to unseat an incumbent governor in a state that hadn't elected a Republican in 135 years. Despite being outspent some 10-to-1, Perdue pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Georgia political history. He received 52% of the vote. Perdue's famous - or infamous - campaign ad derided Barnes as “King Roy” and likened him to a rat. Republicans subsequently captured the legislature: the state senate - for the first time in 132 years - and, in 2004, the state house too.

“King Roy” is back and enters a field already occupied by three Democrats — Attorney General Thurbert Baker, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, and David Poythress, former commander of the Georgia National Guard. Most observers - and early, meaningless polls - see Barnes as the prohibitive favorite for his party's nomination. But a runoff - most likely with Baker - is an almost certainty

Should Barnes earn the nomination, old foes are already girding for a fight. Republicans are almost giddy about the prospect of having another go at Barnes - and defeating him a second time. Six Republicans are in the contest: state Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson; Secretary of State Karen Handel; Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine; state Representative Austin Scott; Congressman Nathan Deal and states rights advocate Ray McBerry.

Last November, in analyzing last year's Georgia Senate race runoff between Senator Saxby Chambliss and Democratic challenger Jim Martin, I cited the famous line from Bette Davis' 1950 film, “All About Eve” -“Fasten your seatbelts, we’re in for a bumpy ride.” (“Georgia Senate race runoff: Fasten your seat belts…,” November 13, 2008).

The political winds of 2010 are just beginning to stir, but we should be preparing to buckle-up for safety as next year's July Primary and November General Election blow our way.